Access Week 2026 Begins Feb. 16!

February 12, 2026

Dear Rutgers–New Brunswick Community,

Access and excellence are not competing values at Rutgers. In fact, they strengthen each other and define who we are as a public flagship university.

Next week, beginning Monday, February 16, we will celebrate those twin values with Access Week 2026. This yearly Rutgers–New Brunswick tradition, led by the Division of Access and Community Engagement (ACE), highlights the resources essential for student success.

I invite you to begin contemplating these values by watching the latest “Rutgers for Real” video, which features student and staff voices—and mine—discussing what access means to them.

During Access Week, students, faculty, and staff are invited to take part in lectures, workshops, and programs that highlight the academic, social, and cultural resources that help all students thrive.

This year’s Access Week programming can be found here. Follow the links to register for the events that interest you.

As a first-generation college student myself, I know how transformative it is when education, mentorship, and opportunity become accessible.

I look forward to celebrating our commitment to removing barriers, strengthening pathways, and building a campus in which opportunity meets ambition.

Francine Conway, Ph.D.
Chancellor and Distinguished Professor
Rutgers University–New Brunswick